Niccolo Machiavelli

Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

Featured quote“Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.”Niccolo Machiavelli

Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

“When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“Politics have no relation to morals.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.” Niccolo Machiavelli

Life Wisdom Sand Hourglass

“There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.” Niccolo Machiavelli

Good Intelligence

“The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“Never was anything great achieved without danger.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“Before all else, be armed.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved.” Niccolo Machiavelli

Fear Love Wise Secure

“Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.” Niccolo Machiavelli

Change Desire Time

“Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.” Niccolo Machiavelli

“There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.” Niccolo Machiavelli